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Best VR Games Of All-Time: 25 Titles To Play Now (Summer 2021)

From uploadvr.com

Looking for a list of the all-time best VR games? We’ve got you covered with our full list. For the past few years at Upload, we’ve kept separate, regularly updated lists of the best VR games on individual platforms, including Quest, Rift, SteamVR and PSVR. But, as the industry continues to grow, the content library feels strong enough to now compile each of those lists into a master list of the best VR games of all-time. If you are looking for the best VR games on individual platforms, though, see our lists below.

For each game on this list we’ve noted which platforms you can play on and linked to more coverage if you want to find out more. But enough talk, let’s run down our list of the best VR games! You’ll find these titles available to buy on the Oculus Store for Quest and Rift, Steam and the PlayStation Store.

The Best VR Games – Ranked

25. Walkabout Mini Golf (Quest, PC VR)

Unlike many sports, mini golf is actually something that could and should work quite well in VR. Walkabout Minigolf is all the proof you need; it’s an accurate representation of the game that goes beyond what’s possible in real life whilst also remaining authentic throughout. This ticks all the boxes – plenty of courses, extensive multiplayer support, different themes for each level and, above all, pinpoint physics that are almost indistinguishable from the real thing. Hard to fault!

24. Gorn (PC VR, PSVR, Quest coming soon) – Read Our Review

There’s definitely an argument to be made for keeping VR games from getting too violent but Gorn basically rips any such debate’s jaw off and then beats it to death with its own arms. Before we step into the murky ground of ‘realism’, Free Lives has jumped all the way over to the other side of the canyon and spilled a frankly hilarious amount of blood in the process. Gorn is all about being the last man standing in a gladiator arena, and the game has little in the way of rules to stop you from achieving that.

Want to pull a guy’s head off? Bash him in with a rock? Swing a mace into a face and knock some eyeballs out? Gorn lets you do all that and it feels wonderful. Not because we have psychotic tendencies but because it’s all so stupidly over the top that you can’t help but laugh. Plus the rubbery effect of the weapons gives them a rare sense of weight and realism in VR. Beyond the stupidity, though, there is actually a great structure in place here that will keep you coming back to unlock new content and make battles surprisingly tense affairs, too. It’s as stupid as it gets but Gorn’s a game you should take seriously.

23. The Room VR: A Dark Matter (PC VR, PSVR, Quest) – Read Our Review

Puzzle masters Fireproof Games knock it out of the park again with a typically excellent rendition of The Room series, this time for VR headsets. This short, sweet adventure is set in The British Institute of Archaeology, where you’ll solve challenging puzzles in search of a missing archaeologist.

What makes The Room VR work is its commitment to the platform it’s appearing on. This isn’t just a bunch of puzzles that would work on a traditional screen; each and every one has been thoughtfully designed with VR at their core.  Not a single mechanic feels over-used and there’s constant invention happening right before your eyes. That makes it easily one of the best VR games, especially if you’re into puzzles.

22. Onward – Read Our Review

Multiplayer VR shooters are a dime a dozen these days. And there’s definitely something for everyone from the Counter-Strike-inspired madness of Pavlov to the Fornite-aping antics of Population: One. But, for our money, Onward’s focus on realism still holds it above all others. On Quest especially, the wire-free gameplay really comes into its own, opening up new tactics like easily going prone. Yes, the game’s suffered visually to get onto the headset, but when you’re aiming down your sights, scanning for targets, you won’t notice. Onward pays close attention to realism, making it a game that can be hard to get to grips with, but absolutely rewarding to master. For that reason, it’s one of the best VR games.

21. Until You Fall (PC VR, PSVR, Quest) – Read Our Review

A stylish and effortlessly cool VR rougelike that has you tackling runs of a randomized dungeon and starting fresh every time you die. A fast-moving progression system keeps the game rewarding and addictive, while the lively arcade action is easy to pick up and difficult to master. Combat might not be as realistic as other VR melee titles, but it’s rock-solid and incredibly fun. If you’re looking for a VR game you’ll revisit time and time again, look no further than Until You Fall. It’s one of the best VR games.

20. A Fisherman’s Tale (PC VR, PSVR, Quest) – Read Our Review

As great as VR is, its initial novelty is bound to wear off after your first few weeks or so. If you want to recapture the magic of putting on the headset for the first time, there’s one destination that’s bound to deliver: A Fisherman’s Tale. This is a mind-bending puzzle game unlike anything you’ll see elsewhere. That alone makes it one of the best VR games.

In A Fisherman’s Tale, you solve intricate, scale-based puzzles in which you work… with yourself. Its best puzzles utilize a miniature model of the lighthouse the game’s set in. Lift the roof of the model and you’ll see a mini-you, imitating your every move. Just try and keep your brain from breaking as you hand yourself giant objects, or reach down to poke your own head. It’s a trip to say the least. Throw in a poignant story about self-acceptance and you have a short, sharp VR game that will stay with you much longer than most multi-hour epics.

19. Blood & Truth (PSVR) – Read Our Review

The London Heist minigame in PlayStation VR Worlds remains one of the most polished and engaging pieces of story-driven VR content out there. Lucky for us, developer Sony London decided to take its short tale of crime capers and turn it into a full game. The result is Blood & Truth, one of the most polished and immersive shooters yet seen on any VR headset, let alone PSVR.

What makes Blood & Truth great is that it isn’t ‘just’ a shooter. Every level has new types of interactions and mechanics to explore, fleshing the virtual world out and bringing it closer to the real one. Its story might be on the cheesy side, but its character models are unmatched and the stunning setpiece moments are often Uncharted-worthy. Don’t let the Guy Ritchie accents fool you; Blood & Truth is one to take seriously and one of the best VR games.

18. Moss (PC VR, PSVR, Quest) – Read Our Review

Moss is one of a handful of 2018 games that proved that third-person VR experiences don’t just work but can make for some of the absolute best content out on the platform right now. You guide an adorable little mouse named Quill through diorama-sized levels, solving puzzles and taking on fearsome critters in sword-based combat.

While it’s mechanically refined, the game’s real claim to fame is the bond you build with Quill over the course of the adventure. Playing as a larger companion to the tiny protagonist, you really start to connect with her as you work together to overcome obstacles. It feels very much like a team effort, which is quite a remarkable feeling in itself that results in one of the best VR games today. Bring on Book 2.

17. Ghost Giant (PSVR, Quest) – Read Our Review

Upon first glance, Ghost Giant appears to be a charming little puzzler that makes the most of its diorama-sized worlds. And that’s very much the case; in this adorable papercraft world you help your young companion out with different chores and tasks. That includes tickling clams and making intentive art in wonderfully tranquil locations. It’s whimsy, delightful and amazing in VR. But that’s only half the story.

Ghost Giant also hides a thoughtful take on tough subjects, smartly communicated through this new medium. The game uses intimacy, scale and connection in engaging ways that bring you closer to the world and characters around you. It’s surprising and responsible, delivering some incredibly powerful moments. All told, it’s one of the most striking and unforgettable examples of VR storytelling yet seen and one of the best VR games.

16. Eleven: Table Tennis (PC VR, Quest)

If you want the most accurate, authentic representation of a sport in VR today, Eleven: Table Tennis is easily your best bet. This simulation-level game offers the most convincing take on a sport that makes perfect sense in VR. Whether you’re serving up hotshots or getting in desperate returns, Eleven’s physics behave exactly the way you’d expect in real life, and tapping the ball with your controller starts to feel as natural as if it were a paddle. More than just a great game, Eleven is one of the rare VR experiences that feels like a genuine replacement for our reality. Yes, it’s that good and one of the best VR games.

15. Beat Saber (PC VR, PSVR, Quest) – Read Our Review

Who would have guessed that, with everything developers could do, the closest VR has yet gotten to a ‘killer app’ is a rhythm action game with knock-off lightsabers? It seems ridiculous but just one go on Beat Saber and you’ll understand why it’s such a hit; it’s an utterly entrancing experience that makes you feel like a master. That’s all you need VR to be. You slash notes that arrive on time with a beat. It sounds simple but, in practice, there are few things more satisfying to do in VR. It won’t be long until you’re throwing your motion controllers around like a ninja. Plus you’ll be working up a sweat and instinctively dancing to the given track. Many people will tell you Beat Saber is one of the best VR games, and they’re absolutely right. Want more? Check out our custom mods guide.

14. No Man’s Sky VR (PC VR, PSVR) – Read Our Review

No Man’s Sky promised to bring its entire universe of billions of procedurally generated planets connected by unending oceans of space that can be explored with friends all into VR. It’s had a few technical hiccups, but you can’t deny it delivered on that hugely ambitious premise. You can lose endless hours here journeying to the top of mountains, scouting below the oceans and duking it out in spaceship battles.

Better yet, Hello Games put incredible effort into this VR update, making it feel native to the game instead of tacked on. Still, remember this is No Man’s Sky; there are plenty of beautiful sights and sounds, but also a fairly punishing survival loop and resource-gathering grind to fight back against. If that sounds up your street, No Man’s Sky will probably be one of your most beloved VR games. The console version is slightly toned down from the PC release, but it’s still one of the best VR games.

13. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard (PSVR) – Read Our Review

Capcom’s 2017 soft-reboot of its beloved horror franchise hit hard in the scare department. Switching to first-person put the horror right in front of you, daring players to fight their way through the Baker mansion. But on PS4 it went a step further with full PSVR support. To this day it remains probably the scariest thing you can see in VR.

This is very likely still the most high-profile VR game out there. It’s a huge AAA production with some of the best visuals you’ll find inside a headset and a full campaign with heaps of variety. It’s well-paced and incredibly tense, harking back to the series’ roots with a focus on limited resources and genuine scares. Plus it proves that, even with gamepad controls, first-person VR can be truly compelling. If you’re looking for a top tier PS4 game with full PSVR support, Resident Evil 7 is as close as it gets, making it one of the best VR games.

12. Star Wars: Squadrons (PC VR, PSVR) – Read Our Review

Who says VR can’t make your dreams come true? Well, whoever they are, they haven’t sampled Star Wars: Squadrons’ stunning VR support, which puts players in the cockpit of X-Wings, TIE Fighters and other iconic ships and lets them duke it out in either multiplayer battles or a full single-player campaign.

Squadrons is fun to play on a flat-screen but, in VR, it quickly morphs into one of the most exciting and immersive experiences you can have today. Detailed cockpits and authentic Star Wars polish bring out the child in you as you zoom around arenas, blowing enemies out of the sky. There are a lot of Star Wars VR experiences out there but, for our money, Squadrons is easily one of the best VR games.

11. Wipeout: The Omega Collection (PSVR) – Read Our Review

Since the day PSVR was announced, Wipeout seemed like an obvious fit for the platform. This would be the chance to realize the dreams we’ve all been had since the sci-fi racing series began on the original PlayStation. But even then we didn’t quite expect Wipeout: The Omega Collection to be quite the tour de force for PSVR it ended up being. It’s easily one of the best VR games.

Sony expertly tweaked several of its older games to fit inside the headset here. The result is a package with heaps of content, all of which you’ll want to see because the game is a flat-out thrill to experience. Shooting around circuits, air-braking across corners and letting machine gun fire rattle out in front of you is unbelievably exhilarating. Pair the extensive career modes with online play and you have one of PSVR’s meatiest and most polished games.

10. Skyrim VR (PC VR, PSVR) – Read Our Review

It turns out that the Skyrim of VR is, well, Skyrim in VR. There are definitely some awkward quirks to Bethesda’s port of its ever-popular fantasy RPG, but we were more than willing to put them to the back of our minds as we explored Tamriel like never before. With hundreds of hours worth of content, full autonomy to make the kind of character you want and an enormous world to explore, Skyrim VR is the closest we’ve come to fulfilling every adventurer’s dreams (outside of taking an arrow to the knee). Plus, on top of the original game, mod support makes this an unending fountain of brilliant fan-made content that can turn you into entirely new characters or even let you experience whole other games that are every bit as good as the original. Skyrim VR is going to be hard to top for some time, and retains its crown as one of the best VR games.

9. Lone Echo/Echo VR (Rift, Quest (Echo VR Only)) – Read Our Review

As standalone packages, Lone Echo and Echo VR represent two of the most immersive, engaging experiences you can have in VR today. As a combined package (which they essentially are on Rift considering the latter is free), they make for one of the best VR games to date. This is a fully immersive, atmospheric thrill ride with the best production values you’ll find on the platform. Lone Echo uses amazing zero-gravity traversal and builds a relationship between the player, a robot named Jack, and his captain, Olivia, to deliver a tight campaign with thoughtful interactions and a compelling narrative. Echo VR takes the same control scheme and applies it to one of VR’s most immediately fun multiplayer experiences that’s unlike anything you’ll find it traditional gaming. Throw in the $10 Echo Combat expansion and there’s hours of entertainment to be had with this package. Quest only has Echo VR, but that’s still enough for a high-ranking spot.

8. Asgard’s Wrath (Rift) – Read Our Review

While Skyrim in VR is a wonderful experience, we can pretty much all agree that it would be better to have an RPG of similar ambition built from the ground up for VR. Asgard’s Wrath might not match the Bethesda classic in terms of size and scale, but it more than makes up for it thanks to its VR-first design. This polished adventure delivers on the dreams that many people hoped VR would offer when they first picked up a headset. Asgard’s Wrath is as AAA as native VR gaming gets. It’s got a meaty, 30+ hour campaign littered with secrets of uncover and eye candy to gawk at. It’s got a refined menu and combat system that really put you in this gorgeous world of Norse mythology. More importantly, though, it’s got incredible moments of heart-pounding action, intense connection and profound growth that could only be achieved in a VR game. That makes it one of the best VR games.

7. Boneworks (PC VR) – Read Our Review

If you want to see how far VR design has come since 2016, look no further than Boneworks. Stress Level Zero’s third VR game might not have the most masterfully designed of shooter campaigns, but its physics-based combat sandbox is a true marvel to behold. In this virtual reality shooter, every object, from broomsticks to bin lids, can be picked up and wielded as a weapon. Every item has a physical presence in the world, meaning you can hook crowbars to edges and then climb up them, or nudge doors open with the end of a gun. The result is a stunning showcase of things to come. Boneworks truly changes the game not just for VR combat but also world design, with fantastic puzzles that require player invention to be solved. Take a good hard look at Boneworks, because it’s laid the foundations for the future of VR gaming and is one of the best VR games around. Knuckles support, in particular, makes it one of the best Index games.

6. Pistol Whip (PC VR, PSVR, Quest) – Read Our Review

Pistol Whip may be the new kid on the block but, for our money, its sharpshooting, sharp sounding, beat-based gameplay proves to be even more hypnotic than Beat Saber. In this neon-lit shooter, you stream down corridors, blasting bad guys to grizzly tunes, avoiding incoming fire and trying to rack up the best scores to the beat.

Pistol Whip’s key is to take influence not just from the VR sales king but also Superhot and, most prominently, John Wick. Whereas Beat Saber wants to make you a dancing Jedi master, Pistol Whip aims to teach you gun-fu with style, elegantly fusing the rhythmic and cinematic together into a pulsating, vibrant monster of its own. Pistol Whip is definitely one of the best VR games.

5. Demeo (Quest, PC VR) – Read Our Review

Demeo isn’t a perfect tabletop game by any means. But it is a really good one and, more importantly, its first-rate four-player multiplayer VR experience makes it feel like a genuine social event in a way that no flatscreen game — and even few VR games — have ever really matched. You pick a class and tackle randomly generated dungeons, but the game’s punishing difficulty means sessions can last anywhere from a few minutes to multiple hours. Demeo is already cemented as one of the best VR games but, with more content on the way, including new dungeons and features, it’s only going to get better.

4. Superhot VR (PC VR, PSVR, Quest) – Read Our Review

Superhot is, without a doubt, the most instantly rewarding game to play in VR. The flatscreen original was great but, by bringing your whole body into this groundbreaking shooter, the developer completely flips the game on its head. In Superhot (stop me if you’ve heard this before), time moves only when you do. That means that when you’re still, the world around you is too. Every time you raise your arm or duck your head, the world crawls into life. You’re essentially a human video playback device.

Superhot gives you a stark realization of the physicality of VR and what that means for gaming. It’s an experience in which you are aware of every inch of your body. It also makes it effortlessly easy to feel cool in VR; every catch of a handgun or toss of a ninja star comes with an incredible strand of slick satisfaction you won’t find anywhere else. Superhot VR is currently the gold standard for VR shooters and, in our opinion, one of the very best VR games.

3. The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners (PC VR, PSVR, Quest) – Read Our Review

We would have never pegged a game based upon The Walking Dead to carry some of the best design and user-interaction you’ll find in VR, but Saints & Sinners delivers all that and then some. This sets the bar for VR zombie games with Boneworks-style, physics-based combat that has you wrestling with hordes of undead, throwing every ounce of effort you can muster into every swing and stab.

But this isn’t just a silly sandbox or wave-based survival game (though it now has that too). Saints & Sinners packs its action into a full, meaty VR campaign that sees you trekking through the remains of New Orleans. Add in human enemies, side-missions and the ability to kill zombies with a spoon, and you have one of the deepest native VR games on the market. Saints & Sinners will be one of the best VR games for some time to come.

2. Astro Bot Rescue Mission (PSVR) – Read Our Review

Sony Japan’s Playroom VR compilation held a lot of delights when it launched on PSVR in 2016, but everyone agreed that the third-person platforming minigame, in which a small robot saved his friends with help from the player, deserved its own title. Astro Bot is the result of those requests, and it’s even better than many had imagined it would be. 26 levels of Mario-quality platforming await you here.

It sounds like hyperbole but it’s true; each one of Astro Bot’s levels packs new ideas that range from endearingly novel to properly groundbreaking. It’s an absolute joy to play from start to finish that never ceases to amaze you. Plus there’s power to the bond you’ll form with Astro on this adventure, breaking down the barrier between players and characters in ways not yet seen in gaming. For that reason, we’re crowning it as one of the all-time best VR games.

1. Half-Life: Alyx (PC VR) – Read Our Review

Well over a decade on, Valve’s legendary shooter series returns in fine form for VR headsets. Set between the events of Half-Life 1 and 2, Alyx casts you as its titular character. Alyx Vance sets out on an adventure that takes her across the iconic setting of City 17. What might seem an experimental spin-off quickly establishes itself as an essential chapter in the series’ canon. Half-Life: Alyx might not feature the sandbox physics of Boneworks or a crowbar to mash headcrabs with, but what it lacks in innovation it more than makes up for in unprecedented production value and design, the likes of which we’ve not seen in VR. Every shootout, every puzzle and every setpiece has been meticulously refined with immersion, comfort and interaction at the core. If you’re not ducking out of the way of zombies, you’re huddled behind car doors returning fire or disarming mines in tense games of Operation. These various elements combine together for a 10+ hour game that feels both true to its roots and VR. It makes for a worthy addition to the Half-Life series and, without a doubt, the best VR game available today.

What do you make of our list of best VR games? Let us know in the comments below!

This post was originally published January 15, 2021, and updated July 23, 2021.

Facebook Deprecates Proprietary Oculus APIs In Favor Of OpenXR

From uploadvr.com

Facebook will deprecate its proprietary Oculus APIs in favor of industry standard OpenXR.

Facebook says new features “will be delivered via OpenXR extensions” starting with v31, echoing language release by Valve last year regarding new features on SteamVR being connected to OpenXR as well.

According to Facebook, in August of 2022 the existing Oculus Native Mobile and PC APIs will become “unsupported”, meaning that “existing applications will continue to function on Oculus devices” but new applications will be required “to use OpenXR, unless a waiver is provided.” In the interim, Facebook will “help developers build new applications with OpenXR via our Developer Site” and “perform QA testing of OpenXR to ensure features are working.”

Facebook “will be unable to provide access to Oculus Native Mobile and PC APIs but will allow existing applications to continue to use them” and “can provide recommendations for migration of existing applications to OpenXR via guides but are unable to assist with creation of new applications with Oculus Native and PC APIs.”

Broad industry support for OpenXR from Facebook and other major VR players like Valve, Microsoft and HTC — as well as game engines from companies like Unity and Epic Games — should make it easier for developers to make VR apps that run on a wide range of hardware. Microsoft’s Flight Simulator VR is one of the first OpenXR-compatible titles. At the end of 2020 Facebook started recommending game engines use OpenXR.

VR Industry Ramifications

“This is the right move at the right time,” wrote original Oculus Rift creator Palmer Luckey in a direct message. “One standard to rule them all didn’t make sense in the earlier days of VR given the fundamentally different approaches of different companies on the hardware and software side, to say nothing of the business component – there was a time when SteamVR/OpenVR (which was not actually open) had huge issues and many companies were philosophically opposed to things like reprojection, the pain developers went through supporting various APIs was critical in building industry consensus on what works best and why. HTC is probably going to benefit the most from widespread OpenXR adoption on the corporate side in the near future, but there are some upcoming entrants who also stand to gain a lot. Industry-wide standardizing to the lowest common denominator still has some downsides, but they are almost certainly outweighed by the benefits to developers and gamers.”

While the move should make it easier for developers of new apps to build for multiple hardware platforms, those building with earlier APIs or older versions of game engines may face some pressure to update to ensure their software and their players are supported should bugs arise, or to gain access to new features like the new Passthrough API.

“I will eventually switch to OpenXR but it will take months of work as Virtual Desktop was developed against Oculus’ VrApi over the last 4 years,” Virtual Desktop developer Guy Godin wrote in a tweet and direct message. “Still have months of work to port Virtual Desktop from VrApi to OpenXR. A passthrough environment will not be possible until then.”

“I’ll no longer be able to expect that — if a critical issue arises caused by Facebook’s new software — that it will be fixed. Which will affect every PCVR game built before 2020 in Unity, ie. most of them,” wrote H3VR developer Anton Hand in a direct message.

You can read more about the OpenXR transition over on the Oculus developer blog.

Rhythm ‘N Bullets Definitive Edition Available Now For PSVR

From uploadvr.com

Rhythm ‘n Bullets Definitive Edition is now available on PSVR, after releasing on PC VR in late 2020 and Quest earlier this year.

The game is a VR rhythm game that, as the name implies, merges music and bullets.

According to Blake Gross from studio DB Creations, the team was “inspired by classic retro shooters with its wireframe aesthetic, bullet color change mechanic, and music infused gameplay” and wanted to “recapture the magic of those arcade games that many of us played when we were younger, while making an awesome and immersive experience for the latest generation of VR technology.”

Here’s a description of the game from Gross himself, taken from the PlayStation blog:

In the game, you will travel across the virtual zone and defend the core by guiding a pair of starfighters through multiple modes of shoot ’em up action. Enemies fly in from all sides, diving towards the core in time with the music. Time your shots to the beat for maximum effect, and grab awesome power-ups to clear each stage. 

There’s multiple game modes as well, including a “multi-level” campaign, a leaderboard-based endless mode and a customizable relax mode (where you can spawn any enemies and change the music) for practicing or just hanging out.

All of the game’s music was made in-house, by composer and audio director Jesse Holt, and the levels were built in tandem with the music, for a better sense of integration between the two. The music will also dynamically alter itself depending on how you’re playing — swelling when you’re performing a combo, for example, and vice versa.

The PSVR ‘Definitive Edition’ release includes a new challenge system, full localization for several languages and a new level theme. You can read more over on the PlayStation Blog.

Rhythm ‘n Bullets is available for PSVR now, alongside PC VR on Steam and the Oculus Store and on Quest via App Lab.

I Expect You To Die 2 Arrives Aug. 24 For PSVR, Quest, PC VR

From uploadvr.com

I Expect You To Die 2: The Spy and the Liar is launching on August 24th for all major headsets and is shaping up to be a must-buy sequel.

Earlier this summer Jamie Feltham tried out a tiny slice of the title from Pittsburgh-based Schell Games and now we’ve played through half of its six mission story arc. We’re going to avoid spoilers, but we’ve tried enough of this seated experience to say that if you enjoyed the first I Expect You To Die, this is looking like exactly what you’d want out of a sequel to its inventive escape room-like puzzles.

The game is priced $24.99 on SteamVR, Oculus Quest and PlayStation VR with a 10% discount on PSVR and Quest if you pre-order. Schell released a new mixed reality trailer with the launch date announcement today that you can check out below:

The title includes the voice talent of Wil Wheaton and the studio released a video last month showing the opening credits with a song performed by Puddles Pity Party.

The developers of I Expect You To Die 2 have a remarkable knack for puzzles that can be both frustrating and rewarding, requiring you to think creatively about your surroundings and alternating between periods of long contemplation and suddenly rushed panic. For about 15 minutes I found myself going through a pile of items on the floor in one of the missions and afraid to open a drawer that led to my death previously — only to realize the solution was right where I expected it to be all along. It is incredible how VR can test patience in unexpected ways — if you die in this game you go back to the beginning of the puzzle. If it took you 20 minutes and 10 tries to get through a section, once you know the path the correct steps will get you back in mere seconds. But your brain still has a stinging memory of those failed attempts and it might feel impossible to fight off the anger of needing to go through it all again, even if it just takes a few seconds.

That’s what to expect from I Expect You To Die 2: The Spy And The Liar. We can’t wait to finish off the rest of the story and will have a full review for you when the game launches on August 24th!

3D Hosting Service Sketchfab Joins Epic Games

From uploadvr.com

3D hosting service Sketchfab is now part of Epic Games.

The acquisition gives Epic Games, makers of the Unreal Engine, a popular 3D asset hosting service and a major piece of the puzzle for an “interconnected Metaverse”, as the companies put it in a joint announcement.

“We built Sketchfab with a mission to empower a new era of creativity and provide a service for creators to showcase their work online and make 3D content accessible,” said Alban Denoyel, CEO and co-founder of Sketchfab, in a prepared statement.

Earlier this year Google closed down its own 3D object hosting service Poly as the company continues to bleed talent in VR and AR researchers.

“The Sketchfab team has done an incredible job opening up the world of 3D content on the web and enabling anyone to edit and publish content online,” said Marc Petit, VP and General Manager of Unreal Engine, in a prepared statement. “As the adoption of real-time 3D technology continues to grow, demand for web-based solutions will only increase.”

Sketchfab hosts 4 million 3D assets and “has integrations across every major 3D creation tool and publishing platform and is compatible across all major browsers and operating systems, on both desktop and mobile,” according to an announcement. Sketchfab will be reducing its store fees to 12 percent in connection with the change.

Lone Echo II Launches August 24 On Oculus Rift Platform

From uploadvr.com

The last announced Oculus Rift exclusive title, Lone Echo II, will launch on August 24 for $39.99 and it will be playable on Quest from a VR-ready PC via Oculus Link or Air Link.

Lone Echo’s impressive single-player campaign in 2017 was one of consumer VR’s early standouts for hand-controlled interaction and the original game will be priced $9.99 until the release of Lone Echo II. So if you haven’t already experienced the compelling story of Liv and her artificially intelligent companion Jack, now is a great time to get caught up on the mechanics of zero-g gameplay before the launch of the sequel. We’ll have to test it when Lone Echo II launches, but many Rift platform games are playable on other PC VR headsets via hacks like Revive.

Lone Echo likely represents a swan song for Facebook’s Rift platform and effectively marks a finale to one of its first efforts in consumer VR. Facebook acquired Oculus in 2014 and funded a series of PC VR games as it learned through trial and error that players enjoyed VR games with tracked hand controls over those played with traditional gamepad. Facebook’s efforts in PC VR ran parallel to those in mobile VR, which won favor with consumers as Facebook progressed from Samsung’s Gear VR phone-powered headset to the underpowered Oculus Go and finally to Oculus Quest, which combined the room-scale and tracked hand controls that made Rift compelling with a standalone wireless form factor.

People who buy Lone Echo II will get a new Jack-themed chassis for their avatars in Echo VR. Last year Facebook acquired Ready At Dawn, the developer of all the Echo games, after the studio adapted the zero-g mechanics it pioneered in Lone Echo into a competitive sport that also ran on Oculus Quest. The free-to-play game is one of VR’s best competitive sports titles. Facebook provided the render below showing the VEGA X-3 chassis players will get for purchasing the game.

Facebook teases that players will get “a new assortment of tools to overcome complex challenges and startling discoveries of deep space in the far future” in Lone Echo II.

Will you be playing Lone Echo II when it launches in August? Let us know in the comments below.

Dyschronia Is The New VR Visual Novel From Altdeus, Tokyo Chronos Dev

From uploadvr.com

Altdeus and Tokyo Chronos developer MyDearest today revealed its next VR visual novel in Dyschronia: Chronos Alternate.

A teaser trailer for the game just dropped on the developer’s YouTube channel, which you can see below. The clip doesn’t tell us a whole lot but it does confirm that the game is set in the ‘Chronos Universe’ in which both Altdeus and Tokyo Chronos take place. The trailer doesn’t confirm platforms other than that it will be coming to VR headsets.

Though we know very little about Dyschronia at this point in time, you can count on it being another narrative-driven adventure. MyDearest’s last two VR titles were both VR ‘visual novels’, in which players interact with characters and are lead through a story. Building on Tokyo Chronos, Altdeus introduced a few more elements of interactivity to the formula.

Both of those titles saw release on Oculus Quest, PSVR and PC VR, so we’d expect Dyscheonia to do the same. It’s releasing in early 2022, though, so it’s possible we also see the game release on Sony’s PS5 VR headset too.

Back at the beginning of July we reported that MyDearest had just raised $8.2 million to keep making VR titles.

Sariento Dev Releases Trailer For Upcoming VR Game Hellsweeper

From uploadvr.com

The developers behind Sairento shared new footage of their upcoming VR game Hellsweeper, set for a Q3 2022 release.

We got a first look at the game last month with a short teaser. Now, we’ve got a meaty trailer, embedded below.

The developers went into more detail on what to expect from the game in a mini Q&A on Reddit. They said Hellsweeper is “best described as a roguelike first person combat simulator” where you play as “an undead immortal who’s on a mission to take out the scumbags of Hell.”

As you would expect from a roguelike, every game will be different with varied weapons and special powers across different dimensions. The game is both an extension of Sairento and also it’s own thing. “Hellsweeper occurs in an alternate world but it borrows a few mechanics from Sairento, especially its locomotion system. So it’s everything you loved about Sairento and a lot more.” The idea for the game came from a desire to improve upon Sairento, hence the decision to keep the locomotion system while improving other aspects.

Combat will be the “bread and butter” of Hellsweeper, and fans will be able to expect “semi realistic physics” in the game. You can choose between physical combat and magic combat, with more advanced players able to experiment with both at the same time.

Hellsweeper won’t have a campaign, mainly as the development team doesn’t think they’ve mastered storytelling in their games just yet. “Instead of trying to develop a subpar campaign, we decided to deploy our limited resources to making the game shine in terms of the gameplay and mechanics. Having said that, we would still offer a background story to give context to the universe of Hellsweeper.”

The game won’t launch into early access, but there will be a pre-alpha demo coming in August or September. The team encourages those interested to follow on their Discord server, where they will be making all big announcements.

Hellsweeper VR will release on Oculus and PC VR stores in Q3 2022. You can read more about the game over on the developer Q&A on Reddit.

Racket: NX Developers Want It To Be An Olympic Sport

From uploadvr.com

One Hamsa, developers of Racket: Nx, teamed up with the International Racquetball Association to push for the game to become the first VR-based Olympic sport.

Earlier this year, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced the Olympic Virtual Series — a “Olympic-licensed event for physical and non-physical virtual sports.” Now, the developers of Racket: Nx are trying to make the game one of those virtual sports. Developers One Hamsa and the IOC-recognized International Racquetball Association are collaborating with the goal of presenting Racket: Nx as a candidate. The idea is to present the virtual sport as not just for existing VR players, but for general racket sports players too. According to One Hamsa Studio Director Assaf Ronen, Racket: Nx is an “immersive, skill-based and fully athletic experience” that “supports the moves of all racquet sports, except those that would not work in the average living room or family room.” The developers say they have a base globally of 150,000 players across PC and standalone VR platforms, including availability in the “emerging Chinese VR market” and they hope that reach means the game is more likely to be accepted.

The first Olympic Virtual Series already concluded ahead of the Tokyo Olympics but the IOC has a roadmap for the coming decade that includes encouraging “the development of virtual sports and further engage with video gaming communities.” More specifically, it recommends the Olympics launch “products and experiences through virtual and simulated forms of sports” and “Consider the addition of physical virtual sports in the Olympic Programme.”

Racket: Nx is one of many VR sports games available on Oculus Quest 2 – you can view our list of the best ones here.

How Astronauts Are Using VR & AR Aboard The ISS

From vrscout.com

From maintenance work to physics experiments, XR technology is playing a major role in the operations of the Expedition 65 crew.

Thanks to jaw-dropping VR films like Space Explorers: An ISS Experience and educational games such as Mission: ISS, anyone with a VR headset has the ability to experience life aboard the International Space Station. But how exactly is VR & AR technology being used by the astronauts operating within the multinational low orbit space station?

When they’re not assisting production companies in shooting breath-taking 360-degree films, crew members aboard the International Space Station have begun utilizing immersive technology in everything from ship maintenance to scientific research. According to the official NASA blog, just yesterday two members of the Expedition 65 crew employed VR and AR technology as part of their respective duties.



Working inside the U.S. Destiny laboratory module’s Cold Atom Lab (CAL), NASA Flight Engineer Megan McArthur used AR technology to assist her in replacing key lab components on a device used to research “fundamental and quantum physics at extremely low temperatures.”

McArthur used a device referred to by NASA as the Sidekick (Investigating Immersive Visualization Capabilities), a modified version of the Microsoft HoloLens mixed reality smartglasses designed to provide wearers with critical information in the form of holographic projections. The organization states that the device can be used to improve tasks including maintenance, science experiments, and various other station operations.

Meanwhile, Commander Akihiko Hoshide of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency utilized VR technology to conduct a series of tests as part of a physics study regarding the development of advanced materials using nanoparticles. According to NASA, Hoshide used a VR headset to study how astronauts visually translate motion in microgravity.

Image Credit: NASA

You can learn more about the use of immersive technology aboard the International Space Station by visiting here.

If you want an even better look at life on the ISS, I highly recommend checking out Space Explorers: An ISS Experience. The ongoing VR documentary series currently has two episodes available, both of which feature some of the most impressive stereoscopic 360-degree visuals I’ve ever seen. What’s more, the astronauts themselves served as both the cast and camera crew, resulting in a uniquely intimate look at life in space.

Feature Image Credit: NASA